November 14, 2018

St. Joseph Pignatelli, SJ

Lk 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.

Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Three essential prayers

“Help. Thanks. Wow.”

Anne LaMott’s “Three Essential Prayers” feel particularly fitting as I read this Gospel while returning home from the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice.

Along with 1,300+ members of the Ignatian family, I spent three days immersed in nourishing prayer, vulnerable storytelling, excellent educational presentations, and inspiring advocacy. “It’s like medicine,” I tell people back home. Every year, we bring our brokenness and blessings, our anger at injustice and passion for creating change. We place at the center our world’s “Samaritans”—the outcast women, men, and children with whom Jesus calls us to live in solidarity. We are challenged to look honestly at the darkness in our Church, our country, and our own hearts and we are moved to choose and create light.

So I suppose this is the moment when I give praise to God. Thank You, thank You, thank You.

Prayer

Help.Thanks.Wow.

—Anne LaMott

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Ignatian spirituality reminds us that God pursues us in the routines of our home and work life, and in the hopes and fears of life's challenges. The founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, created the Spiritual Exercises to deepen our relationship with Christ and to move our contemplation into service. May this prayer site anchor your day and strengthen your resolve to remember what truly matters.

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November 14, 2018

St. Joseph Pignatelli, SJ

Lk 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.

Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Three essential prayers

“Help. Thanks. Wow.”

Anne LaMott’s “Three Essential Prayers” feel particularly fitting as I read this Gospel while returning home from the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice.

Along with 1,300+ members of the Ignatian family, I spent three days immersed in nourishing prayer, vulnerable storytelling, excellent educational presentations, and inspiring advocacy. “It’s like medicine,” I tell people back home. Every year, we bring our brokenness and blessings, our anger at injustice and passion for creating change. We place at the center our world’s “Samaritans”—the outcast women, men, and children with whom Jesus calls us to live in solidarity. We are challenged to look honestly at the darkness in our Church, our country, and our own hearts and we are moved to choose and create light.

So I suppose this is the moment when I give praise to God. Thank You, thank You, thank You.